Pennsylvania

Shapiro pitches carbon cap-and-invest plan to capitalize on Pennsylvania's energy exports • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2024

Shapiro pitches carbon cap-and-invest plan to capitalize on Pennsylvania's energy exports • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would immediately pull Pennsylvania out of a multi-state carbon cap-and-trade program if the state Legislature passes his energy plan, which he said Wednesday would reduce carbon emissions while lowering energy costs and creating clean energy jobs.

Instead of participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Pennsylvania would set its own caps on carbon emissions and require power plants to buy credits to burn fossil fuels. The revenue generated would be returned to consumers as electricity bill rebates and invested in power plants and energy efficiency improvements for homes and small businesses, Shapiro said.

“We’ve got to reject the false choice between protecting energy jobs and protecting the planet. We can do both. We must do both. And doing nothing at this moment is not an option,” Shapiro said in an announcement Wednesday in Scranton, known as the Electric City for its early adoption of electrified street cars.

In his announcement, flanked by labor and environmental officials, Shapiro called for two legislative measures to put his energy policy into law.

The Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) would create a cap-and-invest program to incentivize reducing carbon emissions from electrical generation and produce revenue to support the state’s energy transition, the governor’s office said.

Shapiro also called on lawmakers to pass the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) to modernize and expand the commonwealth’s range of alternative energy sources to include next-generation nuclear, fusion, and carbon capture technologies. It would require 35% of Pennsylvania’s electricity to come from clean sources by 2035. The updated standard would open Pennsylvania to new investment and create 14,500 jobs, the governor’s office said.

Shapiro said the energy plan would capitalize on Pennsylvania’s legacy as an energy leader, noting at Wednesday’s press conference that the first U.S. coal mine was in nearby Pittston, and as the largest net exporter of energy in the country. More than 30% of the electricity produced in the commonwealth is sold to homes and businesses in other states, Shapiro said.

“That’s a unique position of strength. And it is a unique opportunity for all of us if we seize this moment. My plan takes advantage of that position to invest the money we get through this plan back into the good people of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.

Pennsylvania Democrats seek balance between environmental policy and loyalty to labor

Labor leaders from building and construction trades, steamfitters and laborers joined Shapiro for the announcement and praised his advocacy for energy sector workers. Pat Dolan, business manager for United Association Local Union 524, said energy policy is crucial to workers who maintain and improve power plants and upgrade schools and other buildings to make them more efficient.

“That’s job creation that is so key to everything that we do,” Dolan said.

Jackson Morris of the National Resources Defense Council said PACER and PRESS could make Pennsylvania a national leader with a “vibrant and equitable” clean energy economy.

“We – labor, environmentalists, and consumer interests – are all in this together. Because if we don’t act now, Pennsylvania will be left behind,” Morris said.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration entered Pennsylvania into the RGGI compact as its 12th state in 2022. Opponents of Pennsylvania’s membership said it constituted an illegal tax on energy consumers and was an overreach of the governor’s executive authority.

In November, a Commonwealth Court panel ruled in favor of power and coal companies and labor unions that sued the Wolf administration, saying the revenue generated by the sale of carbon credits through RGGI was an unconstitutional tax.

The Shapiro administration is appealing the decision in the state Supreme Court.

GOP lawmakers said after Shapiro’s announcement Wednesday that they are focused on energy policy but said Shapiro’s plan falls short of their goals.

“Instead of coming to Pennsylvanians with a mixed bag of half measures, Gov. Shapiro should immediately pull Pennsylvania out of RGGI and work with Republicans in the General Assembly on real and direct ways we can support Pennsylvania’s growing energy economy and lower costs on Pennsylvania’s families and businesses,” House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said.

Cutler’s spokesperson said Republican energy policy for the last 13 years has included increased production of oil and gas in the commonwealth and enhancing the state’s electricity supply with an all-of-the-above strategy to improve grid reliability. House Republicans will continue their efforts with legislation this session, spokesperson Jason Gottesman said.

Shapiro says state will appeal Commonwealth Court’s RGGI decision

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) called on Shapiro to drop the state’s appeal of the Commonwealth Court ruling.

“It now appears the governor agrees with the Commonwealth Court’s ruling asserting a cap-and-trade program for electric generation is a tax on electricity and would require legislative approval,” adding that a cap-and-trade program that applies only to Pennsylvania electricity producers “does not fit the bill.

“Families are feeling the strain of inflation and increased household expenses, which must be a chief concern when implementing any changes to energy policy. Pennsylvania needs to put electric generation, grid reliability and consumer affordability first, and our Senate Republican Majority will continue to focus on initiatives to promote investment and innovation here in Pennsylvania,” Pittman said in a statement.

Shapiro convened a working group of environmental, energy and labor leaders last April to evaluate Pennsylvania’s membership in RGGI in the context of a three-part test considering the goals of protecting and creating energy jobs, action to address climate change, and ensuring affordable and reliable energy for consumers.

It concluded in September that reducing greenhouse gas emissions was necessary and inevitable, and that a cap-and-trade regulation that generates revenue to support the commonwealth’s energy transition would be optimal. It didn’t reach a consensus on whether to pursue those goals through RGGI or an agreement with a smaller number of states.

Shapiro said he would follow the working group’s recommendations to replace RGGI with either a cap-and-invest plan for Pennsylvania alone or incorporating the 13 states in the PJM Interconnect, which coordinates the distribution of wholesale electricity throughout the mid-Atlantic and beyond.

State lawmakers want to peel back the curtain at the nation’s biggest electrical grid operator

Clean energy business associations applauded the plan, saying the goal of 35% clean electricity would maximize the deployment of new energy sources while maintaining a strong foundation of legacy energy industries.

“Gov. Shapiro’s proposal should help jump start conversations in Harrisburg about how best to bring clean energy’s massive economic and jobs benefits to Pennsylvania,” said Nick Bibby, Pennsylvania state lead for Advanced Energy United. “

Power PA Jobs Alliance, a coalition of about 30 local unions and coal-related companies, said that while Shapiro expressed skepticism about RGGI as attorney general and as a candidate, his proposal Wednesday was “virtually the same carbon tax on electric generation.”

The group said Shapiro’s working group stressed that the commonwealth’s energy policy must not cause increased energy costs, job loss, higher localized pollution or allow carbon emitters to move their operations beyond the reach of regulation.

“A Pennsylvania specific carbon tax-and-trade program … would not avoid, but directly lead to these unfavorable environmental and economic outcomes for Pennsylvania,” the group said.

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Pennsylvania

Independents sue to open Pennsylvania’s primary elections – AOL

Published

6 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Press Room

Independents sue to open Pennsylvania’s primary elections – AOL

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — More than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians won’t be able to vote on May 19 because of the state’s closed primary elections.

The state is an outlier, as 42 other states and D.C. have open primaries, which means voters don’t need to affiliate with a political party ahead of the election to vote. Lawmakers have been pushing for reform since at least 1995, but so far none have successfully changed the law.

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The issue has support from Democrats and Republicans. But now a group of independents has filed a lawsuit asking a Pennsylvania court to force them into the primaries.

John Jones, a former federal judge, cited the “free and fair elections” in Pennsylvania’s Constitution for grounds to open the state’s primary elections.

“Emphasis on the word fair,” he said. Jones and political scientists argue too many elections are decided on primary day, rather than Election Day in November.

“You look statistically in elections from 2020 to 2025, in the state legislature, for example, only about 10% of those elections were actually really contested,” he said.

Pa. primary election 2026: A complete guide

Not everyone is open to open primaries. Republican strategist Chris Nicholas said if voters don’t care to be a part of a party, they shouldn’t get a say in the primary.

“Imagine if you’re a member of the Elks Lodge, and you work all year to make the Elks Lodge the best it can be,” he said. “Then on Election Day, you let those folks from the Moose Lodge in, and they come in for one hour, vote in your elections and leave, never to come back again.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.

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Pennsylvania

Greenville teen dies in Mercer County crash

Published

18 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Press Room

Greenville teen dies in Mercer County crash

GREENE TWP., Pa. (WKBN) – A 17-year-old Greenville boy on a minibike was killed in a crash over the weekend in Mercer County.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

A family member identified the victim as Ethan Guthrie, who attended Reynolds High School.

A Pennsylvania State Police report states that the teenager was driving a minibike traveling westbound on state Route 58 in the eastbound lane. A 2003 Lincoln Town Car driven by a 23-year-old man from Jamestown was traveling east in the eastbound lane.

The report states that the Town Car swerved to the right to avoid a head-on crash, while the minibike swerved to the left and hit the front end of the Town Car.

Guthrie, who was wearing a helmet, was transported to UPMC Greenville but died from his injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police were investigating the crash.

Hanna Erdmann and Kristen Hephner contributed to this report.

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Pennsylvania

I Need to be More Observant, Pennsylvania: You Showed Me Your Best All Along – The Trek

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2026

Press Room

I Need to be More Observant, Pennsylvania: You Showed Me Your Best All Along – The Trek

Miles

So, on my current northbound thru hike, I fell into the “trap” of cruising miles, or as folks like to say “ripping/crushing” miles, all along the South and the Southeast on the Appalachian Trail (AT). No worries for me, the AT Mid-Atlantic couldn’t be that much different of a hike. I got this. Yep. Sure.

Pennsylvania Hiking

Then, Pennsylvania happened. Or, as it is referred to affectionately as, but maybe not so much in some cases, “Rocksylvania.” Pennsylvania started out as “cute” and “kind of a nuisance” with the seemingly gazillions of small, medium, and large rocks all over the trail causing me, at least, to start and stop my hiking over and over throughout a given day. There were substantial amounts of bouldering, navigating janky craigs, constant straight up and down of short mountain sides sans switchbacks, which was unlike the South and Southeast’s larger mountains, less rocks, sweeping trail, and often numerous switchbacks.

A lot of rocks on the trail.

Up and down very large rocks and boulders.

Changing Expectations

About halfway through Pennsylvania, I knew that my hiking expectations were very misguided and this state was going to be a slog. My knees started to really hurt as did my feet. In one fell swoop, for example, I tripped on a rock and ripped a very large hole in my trail runner, had the gaiter on that shoe implode, and tore up my knee. Pennsylvania said, “not so fast, bud… this is a different type of hiking.” And, it was indeed, but I still had not gotten that notion through my head. I needed to push miles, man! Why? I was being stubborn, careless, and likely arrogant and should have known better. A few major wipe outs later on rocks with battered shins and knees as proof, I slowly started to change my tune. I realized that my luck would run out falling down more frequently because I was rushing, and potential serious injury may await me. Thus, I dialed back my miles and expectations. Plus, my energy level was low and I needed to slow down or the Northeast states on the AT were not going to happen.

Changing my hiking expectations.

Hiking Community

Beyond the physical and mental toll, which was personal and an inward state of mind for me, Pennsylvania’s hiking community and care started to manifest itself. Certainly, this esprit de corps was there the whole time, I just had not looked for it. As I headed north in Pennsylvania, water was becoming a greater concern. Thank goodness to the kind hearted trail angels and communities that cached water along the route. Without this gesture, and many times a cache of water would be in very remote or mountainous areas that took time and effort, the hike would have been even more difficult.

A water cache in the middle of nowhere with inspirational messages. Thank you!

Last Day

And then, on my last day in Pennsylvania at Delaware Water Gap, you really gave me a jolt. In the morning of my last day of hiking in the state, I was just giddy that I was going to cruise into Delaware Water Gap by 1:00 on a short day, stay at a hostel, shower, do laundry, resupply, eat crazy amounts of food, and then mosey on into New Jersey the next day and all of that “Rocksylvania stuff” would be behind me. Right.

Last day in PA in the Pocono Mountains.

Unexpected Inclusivity

For the first two stay places I contacted in Delaware Water Gap, there were no responses. Hum. I looked at the hiker FarOut app and saw that there was a Presbyterian church hostel (Church of the Mountain Hiker Center) that was donation based (note: if you stay there, please give financially what you can). I walked to the church, texted the contact number on the door, and was heartily greeted with positivity. I received the door code and went in. I unpacked my gear, grabbed a comfy couch to sleep on later that night, took a shower, and then went outside to hang-up my wet tent from the night before. As I was putting my tent on the clothes line, a truck pulled up and a man asked if I was an AT thru hiker. I indicated that I was, and the man in the truck said that the building attached to the church was a banquet hall and they were having a milestone birthday party for a parishioner. He invited me as his guest. You don’t have to ask me twice. I went to the banquet hall and 50-60 people were present. The celebration was just getting underway. I was introduced to the group by the man in the truck. People were so welcoming and friendly. I spent hours chatting and answering questions about the AT, hiker life, food, gear, cool stuff experienced, hardships, and on and on. We ate, had cold drinks, wonderful birthday cake, and then the DJ cranked up the music and it was a dance party. The DJ started with The Beatles’ “Birthday” song, which in my family we blast the morning of someone’s birthday! Folks danced and laughed and had great community. After the celebration, we all helped clean-up, hugged, and said our goodbyes. I went back to the hostel, which I thought I would have to myself, and found my buddy Smiles there. I had not seen him in months since back in the Smoky Mountains. I also met calendar year triple crown attempter, Ricochet. We hung-out swapped stories, laughed, and ate.

Dance party and community fellowship.

With Ricochet (L) and Smiles (R).

I Take It All Back

So, Pennsylvania, I take it all back. The things I muttered under my breath, or may have said forcefully out loud, or thought inwardly. I got it all wrong. The best of you was there the whole time. Beyond the physical, it just took me until my last day in the state to really realize what a caring hiker community you have and the interest folks have in the AT. From the kind gestures of trail communities and angels that I will never meet to the birthday party folks open arms approach to me; all had me a bit teary eyed the next morning as I crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey. I’m going to miss you, Pennsylvania.

Miss you, Pennsylvania.

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